Page 14 - OHS, October 2021

TRAINING: MATERIALS HANDLING
Major companies like Walmart, Chevron and Verizon are now using VR to train employees, with benefificial results. Another major company—Tyson Foods—has leveraged VR for safety training and as a result reduced injuries and illnesses by 20 percent.4,5
How eLearning Amplifies the Value of DG Training
Whether your organization opts to conduct hazmat shipping compliance training in a classroom environment, as an eLearning curriculum that incorporates VR, or a hybrid of both, it must add business value and support engagement. The following are considerations when developing or revamping your training approach.
■ eLearning tech platforms reduce time and cost
■ Changes in regulatory content can be updated immediately ■ Records can be quickly accessed, ensuring up-to-date
records are readily available
■ Training costs and goals are easier to plan and monitor
■ Training content is easily sharable across supply chain
partners
■ eLearning platforms make it easier to develop consistent
content relevant to a company’s unique needs
■ Integrate your company’s unique policies, procedures,
industry, products and suppliers
■ Add functionality, tasks and examples that are unique to
your situation
■ Support adult-based learning principles
Common Challenges Associated
with Delivering Effective eLearning
Despite the value online learning brings to the training process, there are a number of challenges managers routinely face when attempting to get a digital learning curriculum up and running. Here are the most common challenges and suggestions for overcoming them.
Challenge. Transforming “dry” technical material into a meaningful, engaging online experience
Addressing the challenge:
■ Compartmentalize materials into easily digestible “learning chunks.”
■ Make it fun for to the learner—use lessons based on activities, games and scenarios.
■ Embrace social learning tools. Challenge. Unrealistic deadlines. Addressing the challenge:
■ Be fully transparent about the process from the start.
■ Work directly with those setting the deadlines in order to
manage expectations.
■ Carefully detail the level of work involved with the
eLearning process in order to create a workable timeline. Challenge. Limited budget.
Addressing the challenge:
■ Create realistic estimates of design hours.
■ Prior to the beginning of the project, create a detailed budget that accounts for all expenses to ensure costs remain within a pre-defined limit.
Challenge. Keeping up with modern technology Addressing the challenge:
■ Attend as many technology conferences, eLearning events and trade shows as you can.
■ Make it a habit of routinely reading articles, blogs and case studies to stay up to speed on technology advancements.
■ Join eLearning discussion groups for tips, tricks and suggestions on creating the latest eLearning protocols.
Challenge. Designing eLearning courses for different generations
Addressing the challenge:
■ Learn as much as you can about your learner’s goals, preferences and backgrounds.
■ Use data collected to analyze learner needs and customize eLearning curriculum.
Challenge. Subject matter experts (SMEs) lacking instructional design knowledge
Addressing the challenge:
■ Give SMEs a list of online resources that can be used to brush up on the basics.
■ Team SMEs with other content developers to streamline the process.
■ Provide a short tutorial on your LMS that SMEs can model off of.
Looking to the Future of DG Training
As shipping DG becomes increasingly complex and regulations continue to evolve, it’s clear that many organizations need training programs that better prepare personnel. This is especially true for organizations that have historically just “checked the box” with regard to compliance training.
Remember, it’s important to understand the shortcomings of your current training and evolve it to keep pace with industry and organizational changes.
Always ask yourself:
■ When was the last time you evaluated or updated your training?
■ How prepared do company personnel feel based on current training?
■ Does your training reflect your company’s current business operations or the market landscape?
■ How effectively can you train and recertify employees remotely?
■ What gaps exist within your current training program?
■ Are your training records kept up-to-date?
How you answer these questions will determine what steps are
needed to improve your hazmat training program.
Rhonda Jessop serves as Director of Global Learning for Labelmaster.
REFERENCES
1. https://www.labelmaster.com/dg-confidence-outlook/2019-results
2. https://www.labelmaster.com/dg-confidence-outlook/2018-results
3. https://www.labelmaster.com/dg-confidence-outlook/2020-results
4. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/11/vr-training-by-microsoft-and-pixo- vr--saving-money-and-saving-lives.html
5. https://www.npr.org/2019/10/08/767116408/virtual-reality-goes-to- work-helping-train-employees
14 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2021
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